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Late Fame

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for Late Fame Now Playing 1h 36m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 63 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.
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Late Fame

Late Fame

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Critics Consensus

A gentle rumination on art and authenticity, Late Fame's wistful narrative is made lively by Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee's wonderfully complementary performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Ty Burr Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack) 9h
2.5/4
Late Fame is hardly a bad movie and it’s made by some very good and gifted people. But it’s the rare case of a film that knows what it wants to be but isn’t quite sure when. Go to Full Review Anna Smith Time Out 10h
3/5
Much like its hero, Late Fame drifts towards a conclusion rather than following a clear sense of purpose, but it does so with grace. Like the poetry, it’s sure to find an appreciative audience. Go to Full Review Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times 1d
There’s wisdom and depth to the film’s themes of growing old, dashed dreams and the magic of rediscovery, plus a deliciously ironic final twist. Go to Full Review Toba Singer culturevulture.net 1d
Dafoe turns in a performance fully invested in the Saxberger idiom: informed experience begets the patience and zest for life that inspire originality. Go to Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht 2d
A fun, rich New York story, and if you thought from that plot description that its story represents a straight line of this forgotten man finding a way back to fame, well Go to Full Review Al Alexander Movies Thru the Spectrum 4d
A-
With nary a word, Dafoe works from the inside out to paint a convincing portrait of what it’s like for someone so meek to suddenly be imbued with confidence and esteem. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Late Fame

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Cast & Crew

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Kent Jones

Director

Willem Dafoe

Actor

Greta Lee

Actor

Edmund Donovan

Actor

Tony Torn

Actor

Jake Lacy

Actor
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Late Fame

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Late Fame

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ed Saxberger, a forgotten New York poet, works in the post office. After an eager and flattering young admirer appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention -- and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group's "tragic heroine" -- Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle. This thoughtful, witty film is a wistful yet unromantic look at a lost idea of downtown New York.
Director
Kent Jones
Producer
Pamela Koffler, Mason Plotts, Christine Vachon, Danny Roberts, H.S. Naji, Jackie Langelier, Taylor Shung, Ethan Lazar
Screenwriter
Samy Burch
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 7, 2026, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$41.3K
Runtime
1h 36m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
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